[Secret]
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
August 20, 1941
Purple CA
#487 (Part 1 of 2)
Re
the last part of your #705 [a].
We
cannot, of course, predict what the outcome of the Russo-German war will be,
but this does not preclude our anticipating the fact that in case Soviet Russia
loses and as a result the Stalin Regime disintegrates, Far Eastern Russia will
be thrown into political confusion. It is a self-evident fact that Japan is
pressed with the necessity of taking precautionary measures for the sake of
maintaining peace in the Far East as well as for the sake of Japan's national
defense and security, in view of the actuality that that part of Soviet Russia
is adjacent to Japan and Manchukuo. Furthermore, since, due to the Russo-German
war, there is a possibility of the influence of a third power being implanted
in Far Eastern Soviet Russia, as for instance of Soviet Russia resorting to
such unfriendly act as to allow the establishment of —----- and military bases
in the Maritime province of Siberia or in Kamchataka, and consequently of the
security of both Japan and Manchukuo being threatened, we need to prevent such
a thing from happening.
The
Japanese Government has decided to increase the Japanese forces in Manchukuo to
the minimum number necessary to cope with such a possibility. On the other hand
negotiations are being carried on in Tokyo with Soviet officials in order to
arrive at a friendly solution of various matters having to do with this area. I
understand that the Soviet officials have been instructed by the party leaders
to be cautious in their attitude toward the forces stationed in Manchukuo. This
is solely for your information.
Army 21234 Trans. 8/19/41 (S)
[a] S.I.S. #21165. NOMURA asks to be informed for his own information what the Japanese government intends to do with regard to her northern policy.
[Secret]
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
August 20, 1941
Purple (CA)
#487 (Part 2 of 2)
If
the United States Government asks you questions concerning the increase of
Japanese troops in the North, will you explain to them suitably as your own
view of the matter what I have pointed out above. Impress upon their minds that
the movement of the troops has for its objective purely preventive precautions
against unforeseen emergency and that by it we will be able to forestall any
possibility of peace in the Far East being disturbed.
Recently
when the Soviet Ambassador in Tokyo inquired about this matter, I replied that
so long as the Russian Government lives up to the treaty Japan also will be
faithful to it. The Ambassador was very much pleased to hear this, saying that
my statement had clarified the matter. This is solely for your information.
If
it becomes definitely known that the United States is shipping iron, airplanes
and other materials by way of Japanese coastal waters to assist Soviet Russia,
this fact would unnecessarily provoke the feelings of the Japanese people, and
it cannot be said that it will not have an unfavorable effect on the question
of readjusting Japanese-American relations—a question which is at the present
stage a very delicate one. We would like, therefore, to see the United States
refrain from such action. Will you take a good opportunity and tactfully call
the attention of the United States authorities to this fact. Today I personally
called the attention of the American Ambassador to it.
Army 21235 Trans. 8/20/41 (S)
(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)